Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Bo Pelini just signed a brand new contract that made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Big Ten conference—but what if he hadn’t?

Late last season there was some conflict between Pelini and the Nebraska brass, but things were ironed out and the Cornhuskers move forward towards their first season in the Big Ten with a secured head coach.

If Pelini were to bolt or wasn’t on the Nebraska sideline for some reason following 2011, who are then 10 most likely coaches to be courted by the Big Red?

Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Kyle Whittingham started his journey at the University of Utah seven years ago after the best season that the Utes had ever seen.

Standing on the Fiesta Bowl sideline as co-head coach with Urban Meyer, he shared in a memorable victory and never looked back.

Named the 2008 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, 2008 AFCA Coach of the Year and the recipient of the 2008 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, Whittingham clearly knows a thing or two about how to coach a football team.

His 58-20 overall record (6-1 in bowls) helps prop that idea up, too.

He hasn’t had a team win less than ten games since 2007 and at worse won seven games during his first season.

Chris Peterson, Boise State

Peterson has done wonders for Boise State and is probably pretty happy that Dan Hawkins decided to high-tail it to Colorado.

There are bigger challenges to be conquered and Peterson can either hope for the best when it comes to his Broncos getting respect or he could be a part of one of the most tradition-rich schools in the sport’s oldest conference.

Peterson took players that few schools wanted like Austin Pettis and Kellen Moore then turned them into household names.

One can only imagine what he’d be able to do with Nebraska’s pull and prestige.

Gary Patterson, TCU

A hard-nosed, passionate former football player who has spent most of his career dedicated to the defensive side of the ball.

Sound familiar?

If Bo Pelini had a clone in today’s college football landscape, Gary Patterson’s about as close as you’d find.

Patterson not only preaches the same manner of physical football as Pelini, he now has a win over Big Ten brute Wisconsin as a feather in his cap.

His Horned Frogs have won 10-plus games seven times during his 10 years as head coach at TCU.

With Patterson's deep roots in Texas high schools, sticking him in Lincoln with all of the toys at his disposal to crank out powerhouse football players might be one of the best things Cornhusker fans could hope for post-Pelini.